TONIGHT’S GAME
The Rangers will face-off against the Phoenix Coyotes at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET — TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7), in the first of two straight home games. The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Metropolitan Division standings, and sixth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 39-29-4 (82 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the New Jersey Devils, 2-0, on Saturday at Prudential Center, to conclude their three-game road trip with a 3-0-0 record. The Blueshirts have won four of their last five games, including four straight on the road. The Coyotes enter the contest with a 34-26-11 (79 pts) record to rank eighth in the Western Conference, and have won three of their last four games. Following tomorrow’s contest, the Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, Mar. 26, at Madison Square Garden (8:00 p.m.), in a Metropolitan Division matchup.

RANGERS vs. COYOTES:
• All-Time: 38-25-6-0 overall (22-10-2-0 at home; 16-15-4-0 on the road)
• 2013-14: Tonight is the second and final meeting this season, and the only meeting at Madison Square Garden. New York is 0-1-0 overall (0-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road), following a 4-1 loss in the season opener on Oct. 3 at Jobing.com Arena. The Rangers’ power play was 1-4 (25.0%) in the contest. Marc Staal notched the Blueshirts’ lone goal, off a feed from Rick Nash and Derek Stepan. Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves.
• Last Season: Did not play. In 2011-12, New York was 2-0-0 overall (1-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road). Both contests were decided by one goal, including a 2-1 shootout win on Jan. 10, 2012, at MSG. The Rangers out-shot the Coyotes, 62-42, including a 21-10 advantage in the first period and a 23-12 advantage in the third period, and out-scored Phoenix 3-1 in the third period. Three different Rangers combined to score the team’s four goals in the series, including a game-winner by Brad Richards on Dec. 17, 2011 at Phoenix, and nine different Blueshirts tallied at least one point in the two games. Henrik Lundqvist was 1-0-0 with a 0.93 GAA and .947 Sv%, while Martin Biron was 1-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .913 Sv%.
• The Rangers have won eight of their last 11 games against the Coyotes, including a 5-1-0 mark at home over the span, dating back to a 3-2 win on Oct. 28, 2002
• The Blueshirts and Coyotoes have been separated by one goal in four of their last five meetings, including two contests that required the shootout
• New York is 16-16-4 at home; Phoenix is 13-14-8 on the road
• The Rangers are 11-12-0 vs. Western Conference opponents; the Coyotes are 15-10-3 vs. Eastern Conference opponents
• New York lists one former Coyote on their roster: Daniel Carcillo (2006-07 – 2008-09)
• Phoenix lists two former Rangers on their roster: Lauri Korpikoski (2008-09); Derek Morris (2008-09)

PLAYOFF RACES
If the playoffs began today, the Rangers would advance to the Metropolitan Division Semifinals as the #3 seed against the #2 seed Philadelphia Flyers.

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
Henrik Lundqvist established two franchise records in a five-day span, becoming the Rangers’ all-time wins leader with his 302nd career victory on Tuesday at Ottawa (8-4, 35 saves) and the team’s all-time shutouts leader with his 50th career shutout on Saturday at New Jersey (2-0, 21 saves). He registered his 300th career win with a 30-save shutout, the 49th of his career, in the Rangers 3-0 victory over Detroit on Mar. 9 at Madison Square Garden. He became the 29th goaltender in NHL history to reach the 300-win mark, and is one of six active goalies with at least 300 wins. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lundqvist is the fifth fastest goaltender to record 300 wins (560 games).

ROAD WARRIORS
New York is in the midst of a four-game road winning streak, and has won 21 of their last 28 contests on the road. The Rangers have posted two separate six-game road winning streaks this season for the first time in franchise history. The Blueshirts are now 23-13-0 on the road this season. Their 23 road wins lead all NHL teams, and is one shy of the franchise record for road wins in a season.

MAC TRUCK
Ryan McDonagh enters the contest with a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists) and has registered nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 11 games, a stretch that began with a career-high, three-game goal streak. He has also logged 25:00+ of ice time in each of the last six games. He leads the Rangers and ranks 14th in the NHL in average ice time (24:45), and ranks second on the team with 121 blocked shots. McDonagh notched a shorthanded goal in consecutive games on Mar. 5-7, to become the first Rangers player to record a shorthanded goal in consecutive games since Michal Rozsival on Nov. 17-19, 2007. He has also tied Brian Leetch’s single-season franchise record for most shorthanded goals by a defenseman with three shorthanded goals this season. McDonagh is tied for fifth in the league in shorthanded goals (three) and ninth in shorthanded points (four). He is currently one point shy of 100 career NHL points.

RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash has posted four multi-goal performances and leads the Rangers with 23 goals this season. He has tallied at least 20 goals in each season since his rookie year in 2002-03 (17 goals), and is the only player in the NHL with an active streak of 10 straight 20-goal seasons.

THE HOT LIST:
• Henrik Lundqvist – Has held opponents to two goals or less in 16 of his last 23 games (16-6-1, 1.96 GAA, .935 Sv%, 3 SO), and is 6-2-0 with a 1.63 GAA, .945 Sv%, and two shutouts in his last eight contests
• Derek Stepan – three-game goal/point streak (three goals, one assist), and has recorded a point in 11 of the last 13 games (five goals, 10 assists)
• Ryan McDonagh – three-game point streak (one goal, two assists), and nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 11 games
• Mats Zuccarello – Has registered 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in his last 15 games, including four assists in the last three contests
• Rick Nash – three goals in the last three games
• Carl Hagelin – six points (five goals, one assist) in the last nine games, including five points (four goals, one assist) in the last five contests
• Derick Brassard – three goals and four points in the last three games
• Kevin Klein – four points (one goal, three assists) in the last seven games

254 Comments

Eddie..Eddie…Eddie….great pic…man..talk about heart! Anyway…sure Columbus wishing Gabby was still around…he sure looks better when your team can’ t score. Sound familiar? Nice to have Joe back…he sure makes the radio broadcast that much better…but glad he is back. Gotta do two things tonight…get two points..preferably non-Bettman style…and keep Brad Richards healthy….hate to look ahead..but Philly can be quite the game…it is Onion’s time.

Tonight is the classic trap game and scares the crap out of me. Two emotional wins against division rivals, and another coming up on Wednesday. Do you give Hank a blow or do you ride the hot goalie and rest him against Edm or Cgy?

NY started their season with a stellar 3-6 road trip in Phoenix. Remember Vrbata? He had a hat-trick that day. And Hanzal was hitting everything that moved. Also, that was Nash’s first fight this season. He fought Hanzal and didn’t look too good after. I suspect that was a setup for his concussion in SJ a few days later. They need to remember that game and come out swinging.

As the stakes get higher each game now Richards just looks like he can’t keep up. I find myself yelling at television every time he’s on ice late in game protecting a lead. He can’t skate or back check.

Is this guy, #19, secretly married into the Dolan family or something? How can it be possible that Sather keeps him here and the coaches feel free to publicly point out small foibles of other players and Richards glides on month after month, year after year like he was the Duke of Cornwall?

Haggerty should be in Hartford if his contract were properly worded, and unless the league objects. And that slug, Falk, should be sent packing if he refuses to go down. We need some experienced players here right now to replace Step and MSL.

I don’t believe athletes actually get “the flu” as much as we’re told they do. These guys have to get flu shots, right? I think “the flu” is about a descript as “lower body injury.” For all intensive purposes.

Green Flu –
Ranger Complacency, commonly known as “the Green Flu”, is an infectious disease of the heart locally specific to the NY Rangers caused by signing long term UFA contracts, missing training camp as an RFA or being traded for during the last productive phase of your career. The most common symptoms are not back-checking, fear of attacking crease, unwillingness to engage opponents, and lack of desire in playing 2 way hockey.

Green Flu is severe disease caused by a senile GM.[1] Green Flu may produce nausea and vomiting of the Garden faithful, particularly in diehards,[2] but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated alcohol overconsumption, which is sometimes referred to as “Irish Flu” or [3] season ticket holder reaction upon viewing cost of next season’s new and improved transformed ticket prices or “Blue shi(r)t Flu”.

“I don’t believe athletes actually get “the flu” as much as we’re told they do. These guys have to get flu shots, right? I think “the flu” is about a descript as “lower body injury.” For all intensive purposes.”

They’re filming an episode of her tv show outside of my office. I was walking to get my lunch and she cam out of her trailer as I was about to pass it. She was flanked on either side by security or production people. I played it cool and walked between her and her people, like she was nobody important.

Just think had he stayed in school, he probably would have hung 2 Championship banners. He would have been a Siouxper ALL-STAR, perhaps up their with the legends, skating on a line with his Gold-Medal side kick.

*Gernander*: “Good news, son. You got called up to the big show. They have some players down with the flu and, well, I recommended you. I can’t say how long you will be up there, but, if you make an impression you could possible help this team get to the playoffs.”

*JT Miller*: “I ain’t going coach!”

*Gernander*: “Why?”

*JT Miller*: “Have to look out for my best asset. *Me*”

*Gernander*: “Probably not your best career move, son.”

*JT Miller*: “What do you know old man? You’re not my dad and you’re not my agent. I hate you!”

*Gernander*: “No, Glen. JT Miller is a prospect in your system. He was up with the big club before. You remember? Haley is a veteran player you have for added grit. Actually. Glen, is Jeff around? Can I talk to Jeff?”

*Gernander*: “I can’t really explain it, Jeff. He told me he neeeded to protect his best asset. I think he means himself. Wait, I’ve got a letter here. It’s from Miller’s agent. Never heard of this guy before. Robby Bonfire of Bonfire Industries. Hm. Miller must have switched Agents without notifying the club.”

*Gernander*: “Well. I can read it to you, “heretofore my client, JT Miller, will not be reporting to the big club. We don’t feel it’s in his best interest to be bounced back and forth. You can keep your higher paygrade and we henceforth demand a trade.””

All you ever needed to know about Richy you learned when he tweeted about golf right after we got ousted by the Devils. Not the judgment or passion of a leader. I stand by the comment made at that time.

_Later that day. Lights fade up into a small apartment filled with squalor. Miller is packing his bags and speaking on his cellular phone. There are empty bags of chips and other garbage strewn about the floor. JR is pacing and throwing jock straps into a duffel bag_

*Miller*: “It’s just not fair, Mommy. It’s just not fair! I want to play with my friends and not have to bounce back and forth. It’s really hard. You don’t understand.”

_JT Pauses while he listens to his mother respond. The audience does not hear her end of the conversation_

*Miller*: “I don’t care, Mommy. You and Dad can send me more money. I don’t wanna go up to the Rangers. I would have to be in New York City and I would have to miss this awesome party tonight in West Hartford! SEND ME MONEY NOW, MOM. I want to get a round of Oysters at Max’s Oyster Bar!”

_The door opens and in walks Asham carrying a six pack in his hand. His hair is down and his shirt is open. He has the likeness of a monster awkwardly drawn on his stomach. His pants are ripped pajama pants and he wears dormitory sandals_

*Miller*: “Mommy. I have to go. My friend is here. HE UNDERSTANDS ME!”

*Asham*: “JT. I heard that you got called up but don’t want to go. Why would you do something like that. You’re playing with fire, kid. You need to jump on every opportunity you get in this world. Take me for example. I met a nice woman downstairs. She drew all over my stomach. We ate Cheetos together and she taught me how to needlepoint. That was an experience I never would have gotten if I didn’t embrace it!”

*Miller*: “Well. I got a new agent. His name is Robby Bonfire of Bonfire Industries. You ever meet him? Doesn’t matter. Great guy. The best. He advised me to hold out and refuse to go up. They need to treat me with some respect!”

*Asham*: “Respect? You’re 21 years old, JT. If you refuse you will lose the chance to impress your bosses and get called up for next season. Listen, man. A lot of these guys are one 1 year contracts and they are going to get greedy. You can slip into the lineup as a regular next season when they demand too much money. Don’t burn these bridges, JT. You can end up traded. You’re just about to come off your Entry Level Contract and, while you don’t have arbitration rights, the team will certainly give you a nice raise. You can finally buy Rebecca that ring she deserves.”

*Miller*: “I hear you, Ash. But my agent, Robby Bonfire, told me that I need to hold out. If the Rangers trade me that’s fine. I can catch on somewhere else. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I can get traded to a town where they respect me!”

_Lights slowly fade out as Asham passes out on the floor. JT puts his bag together, takes one last look at his apartment and exits stage left_

Brooks has a piece on Brian Boyle. Seems the Rangers have not responded to his requests for negotiation of a new contract. He is going to be a free agent. I like Boyle. He is a loyal soldier. I especially like in in his current role, which is appropriate for him. He is a valuable guy. I would be sad to see him go.

Eddie Giacomin and Mike Richter will both be here for the ceremony, as will Lundqvist’s parents, who are in from Sweden. The video tribute — I caught a preview of it — will be done to the Foo Fighters’ “My Hero.”

“What kind of people do they think we are? Is it possible they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?”

I was at the Meadowlands when Verbeek beat up Leetch…. I think the same night Shanny beat the tar out of David Shaw. Bergy then fell in love Rudy Poke check…no more beatings. Espo n Bergy now there was some hatred